>> THE OHIO FALLOUT OF OF TRUMP'S CONVICTIONS !

!musiC@!!!musiC@!

>> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD."

FOR THE FIRST TIME, A CONVICTED FELON IS A MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT.

DONALD TRUMP STANDS CONVICTED OF FALSIFYING BUSINESS RECORDS TO HIDE PAYMENTS AIMED AT SILENCING PORN STAR STORMY DANIELS, WHO SAYS SHE HAD A SEXUAL ENCOUNTER WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

TRUMP REMAINS POPULAR IN OHIO.

HE EASILY WON THE STATE THE LAST TWO CYCLES.

HE PAVES THE WAY FOR J.D.

VANCE TO WIN HIS U.S. SENATE SEAT, AND VANCE WAS OUT FRONT, DENOUNCING THE PROSECUTION, WHICH HE SAYS WILL BACKFIRE ON DEMOCRATS.

>> THE ONE THING I WILL SAY, JESSE, AND I'M HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS ALL OVER THE STATE OF OHIO.

THEY'RE FRUSTRATED.

THEY'RE ANGRY, AND THEY'RE SAYING, HOW CAN WE HELP?

WHAT CAN WE DO?

THEY FEEL SO POWERLESS, WHICH I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE OF THIS SHAM PROSECUTION HAPPENING IN NEW YORK SO FAR AWAY FROM THE STATE OF OHIO.

THE ANSWER IS GET INVOLVED, JESSE.

>> U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE BERNIE MARINO USED THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT TO WIN THE GOP PRIMARY EARLIER THIS YEAR.

SHORTLY AFTER THE VERDICT, HE CALLED IT A DARK DAY FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AND SAYS HE STANDS WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

SHERROD BROWN AND OTHER LEADING DEMOCRATS ARE LARGELY SILENT ON THE CONVICTION, WHICH HAPPENED THIS WEEK.

MIKE, THE CONVICTION HELP DONALD TRUMP, HURT DONALD TRUMP IN OHIO, OR DOES IT EVEN MATTER?

>> HERE IN OHIO, DONALD TRUMP WAS GOING TO WIN OHIO REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE VERDICT.

BUT IT IS A SAD AND SHAMEFUL DAY HERE, MIKE.

NO LONGER DO WE HAVE THE FAIREST JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE NATION.

THE VENUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHANGED.

IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN NEW YORK CITY THERE.

THE JUDGE DONATED TO PRO-BIDEN OPERATIONS, WHICH IS ILLEGAL IN NEW YORK.

THE D.A.

CAMPAIGNED AFTER GOING AFTER TRUMP.

THIS WAS A SETUP FROM THE BEGINNING.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEE IT.

I THINK IT WILL HELP TRUMP WIN BY A LARGER MARGIN, WHICH HELPS BERNIE MARINO AND CANDIDATES ALL DOWN THE TICKET.

>> SO THE PROCESS, YOU TALKED ABOUT, WAS UNFAIR.

THE FACTS OF THE CASE, DID HE HIDE EXPENSES AND THE HUSH MONEY TO SILENCE STORMY DANIELS, AND DID HE NOT HAVE THE SEXUAL ENCOUNTER WITH STORMY DANIELS WHILE HIS WIFE WAS HOME WITH A NEWBORN BABY?

>> WELL, A JURY OF HIS PEERS SAID HE DID, SO THAT'S THE VERDICT.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, CNN'S SENIOR ANALYST SAID, WHEN THIS CASE BROKE, THE VERDICT BROKE, THAT, YOU KNOW, NEVER BEFORE HAVE WE TAKEN FEDERAL ELECTION LAW AND TURNED IT INTO STATE CRIMINAL CASE, NOT IN NEW YORK, NOT IN WYOMING, NOWHERE.

THIS IS A NOVEL CONCEPT THAT'S HAPPENED, WHY?

BECAUSE IT'S DONALD TRUMP.

>> COULD THIS BACKFIRE ON DEMOCRATS?

DONALD TRUMP RAISED A LOT OF MONEY, HE SAYS, IN THE HOURS AFTER THE VERDICT.

COULD THIS BACKFIRE?

COULD IT ENERGIZE HIS SUPPORTERS EVEN MORE?

>> I THINK IF ANYTHING, IT'S GOING TO ENERGIZE DEMOCRATS TO GO TO THE POLLS.

I MEAN JUST BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN CONVICTED AND HE'S NOW A FELON DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE FOLKS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE ARE GOING TO GIVE UP.

I THINK IT EMBOLDENS THE GOP PARTY TO SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP EVEN MORE FOR REASONS I'M NOT SURE OF.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE VERDICT IS GOING -- THE ULTIMATE VERDICT IS GOING TO BE ON ELECTION DAY FOR DONALD TRUMP, WHETHER HE'S GOING TO BE PRESIDENT AGAIN OR NOT.

>> DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN QUITE -- I LOOKED AT SHERROD BROWN RIGHT BEFORE WE STARTED THE SHOW.

NOTHING ON TWITTER.

NO QUOTES.

NOT EVEN SAYING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WORKED AND WE SHOULD VOTE STILL IN NOVEMBER.

THERE WAS NOTHING FROM SHERROD BROWN.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S REALLY ANY POLITICAL UPSIDE FOR HIM TO COMMENT ON THIS.

HE DOES, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY -- IT'S BELIEVED THAT TRUMP'S GOING TO WIN OHIO, LET'S SAY BY EIGHT POINTS, IF NOT MORE.

THAT'S 8% OR MORE OF PEOPLE THAT SHERROD BROWN'S GOT TO GET TO VOTE FOR HIM AND TRUMP.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW THAT HE REALLY GETS ANYTHING OUT OF IT.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE WON'T ASK HIM WHEN WE HAVE A CHANCE.

I'M SURE HE'LL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT IT.

BUT WE'VE SEEN DEMOCRATS SAY THINGS LIKE, WE SHOULD RESPECT THE RULE OF LAW.

THE JURY HAS SPOKEN.

NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW, AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO WE'LL SEE.

>> THERE ARE FOLKS, MIKE, SOUTHERN OHIO, OTHER STATES, WHO ARE ON THE FENCE.

MAYBE THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, TEPID TRUMP SUPPORTERS, AND NOW HE'S GOT A CONVICTION UNDER HIS NAME.

MIGHT THAT DISSUADE THEM TO PERHAPS STAY HOME OR TO VOTE FOR BIDEN?

>> I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERY VOTER IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I SAY NO.

BILL CLINTON TAUGHT US FAMOUSLY A LONG TIME AGO, IT'S STILL ABOUT THE ECONOMY, STUPID.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S THE ECONOMY, ECONOMY, ECONOMY, AND IT AIN'T GREAT IN OHIO OR ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE KNOW IT'S A HUGE ADVANTAGE FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME OF WHAT HAPPENED.

LOOK, I'M AN ELECTED DELEGATE FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP, AND I'M GOING TO PROUDLY CAST MY VOTE FOR HIS NOMINATION IN MILWAUKEE IN JULY.

AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK HARD TO SEE THOSE BATTLEGROUND STATES.

WE THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> HOW DO DEMOCRATS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS IF THEY WANT TO USE THIS FOR THEIR CAMPAIGNS WITHOUT SEEMING LIKE THEY'RE GLOATING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT DEMOCRATS WILL UTILIZE THIS, FOR ONE, TO FUND-RAISE.

BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE USING THIS FOR A FUND-RAISING OPPORTUNITY, BUT ESPECIALLY PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS.

BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU KNOW, MIKE HAD MENTIONED THAT IT'S JUST THE ECONOMY, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT ARE AT STAKE RIGHT NOW ON THE BALLOT.

I MEAN WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE WARS AND ALL THE UNREST THAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE BORDER, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE THE ECONOMY THINGS THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON, AND DO THEY WANT SOMEONE THAT IS GOING TO STEADY THE SHIP, OR ARE THEY GOING TO BRING SOMEONE IN THAT'S BRINGING CHAOS AND DYSFUNCTION TO THE OFFICE?

>> THE LONG, TORTUROUS PROCESS OF MAKING THE NATION'S SEVENTH LARGEST STATE GETS TO VOTE FOR TWO CANDIDATES APPEARS AT AN END.

THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION COMES AFTER FILING THE DEADLINE.

THAT MEANS JOE BIDEN WAS IN JEOPARDY OF BEING OFF THE BALLOT.

ALABAMA, A FEW WEEKS AGO, VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO PUT BIDEN ON THE BALLOT.

THIS YEAR, OHIO LET THE DRAMA PLAY OUT FOR TWO MONTHS, BUT NOW THE PROBLEM APPEARS SOLVED.

UNDER ORDERS FROM GOVERNOR DeWINE, LAWMAKERS HAVE PASSED THE BILL TO PUT BIDEN ON THE BALLOT IN CONJUNCTION WITH A MOVE TO BAN FOREIGN DONATIONS TO ISSUES CAMPAIGNS.

DEMOCRATS ALSO AGREED TO NOMINATE BIDEN VIRTUALLY BEFORE OHIO'S DEADLINE.

ANDREW TOBIAS, THIS HAS GONE ON FOR TWO MONTHS.

THERE'S BEEN NO MOVEMENT ON IT.

WHAT FINALLY PROMPTED LAWMAKERS TO SAY, LET'S FIX THIS LIKE WE FIXED IT TWICE BEFORE?

>> SPECIFICALLY ON THE BIDEN PIECE, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR TO ME FROM MY REPORTING THAT THE GOVERNOR CALLING THE SPECIAL SESSION BASICALLY FORCED THINGS BACK TO THE TABLE.

WE HAD JASON STEPHENS ANNOUNCE LAST WEEK THAT HE'S BASICALLY MOVING ON, AND NOW, YOU KNOW, ABOUT NINE DAYS LATER, THE BILL PASSED.

SO PART OF THAT IS THAT THE DNC ACTED ON MONDAY TO BASICALLY ADMINISTRATIVELY ADDRESS IT BY SCHEDULING LIKE A ZOOM PRE-CONVENTION KIND OF THING.

BUT THE FACT IS LAWMAKERS PASSED THE BILL AFTER, YOU KNOW, JUST ABOUT A WEEK AGO, SAYING IT WAS DEAD IN THE WATER.

>> BUT THIS IS ONLY A ONETIME FIX.

THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW THREE TIMES, ANDREW.

WHY DIDN'T THEY MAKE A PERMANENT FIX, MAKE IT 65 DAYS PERMANENTLY INSTEAD OF THE 90 DAYS?

>> I DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER FOR THAT.

MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING THEY THINK THEY CAN TRADE ON IN THE FUTURE.

IT'S THE KIND OF THING I FEEL LIKE IF YOU WERE TO SORT OF EXPLAIN IT TO YOUR AVERAGE PERSON, THAT IT DOESN'T REALLY MAKE THAT MUCH SENSE.

>> DEMOCRATS, DO THEY GIVE UP A LOT BY BANNING THESE FOREIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ISSUES CAMPAIGNS?

>> I WANTED TO GO BACK TO YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THIS WAS A GOOD DECISION OR WHAT WAS THE ANSWER.

AND THE ANSWER IS THAT THE REASON WHY THEY DIDN'T DO A PERMANENT BAN IS BECAUSE IT'S POLITICS.

THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO USE THIS IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS OR IN SUBSEQUENT CAMPAIGNS TO WORK TO THEIR ADVANTAGE FOR THEIR OWN PARTY.

>> MIKE, THE FOREIGN CAMPAIGN DONATIONS, WHY IS THAT A BIG DEAL?

THE ELECTION COMMISSION IN OHIO SAYS IT'S ILLEGAL ANYWAY.

YOU CAN'T GIVE TO AN ISSUES CAMPAIGN IF YOU'RE A FOREIGN NATIONAL, THEY SAY.

IT'S NOT HAPPENED THAT MUCH.

>> AS WE ALL KNOW, NO DISRESPECT TO THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION, BUT THEY HAVE NO TEETH.

YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT, AND THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION CAN'T STOP IT.

BUT WHAT THE LEGISLATURE CLEARLY DID WAS SAY IT'S ILLEGAL.

IN 2023, DEMOCRATS, THE MEDIA WERE SO UPSET THAT AN AMERICAN CITIZEN WHO HAPPENED TO BE AN ILLINOIS BILLIONAIRE WAS GIVING MONEY TO US BUT THEY SAY NOTHING WHEN $10 MILLION, $15 MILLION COMES FROM THIS SWEDISH GUY TO IMPACT OUR LIFE HERE.

LET'S BAN IT ALL AND LET OHIOANS GO TO THE BALLOT BOX AND MAKE A DECISION.

>> REPUBLICANS DO THE SAME THING.

WE ALL KNOW THAT.

WE ALL KNOW THAT.

>> ANDREW, DOES IT BAN FOREIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUPER PACs WHO THEN MIGHT SPORT AN ISSUES CAMPAIGN?

>> THE LAW THEY PASSED DESCRIBES INDIRECT CONTRIBUTIONS, AND THERE'S A DEFINITION FOR THAT.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS IN REALITY.

I KNOW THESE TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS HAVE LOTS OF LAWYERS.

THEY HAVE COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENTS.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY WOULDN'T JUST FIGURE A WAY TO GET AROUND IT BY CHANGING THE ORGANIZATION.

BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT INDIRECT CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE LAW.

>> AND, MIKE, I DON'T THINK THE LAW WAS GOING TO GO INTO EFFECT, MY PERSONAL OPINION, BECAUSE I THINK THE ACLU OR SOMEONE IS GOING TO FILE A LAWSUIT COME MONDAY OR WHENEVER THE GOVERNOR SIGNS IT IN CINCINNATI, CLEVELAND, OR COLUMBUS.

THE TRO WILL BE ISSUED AND OFF WE GO.

>> THE GOVERNOR CALLING THE LAWMAKERS BACK INTO SESSION, A RARE USE OF HIS BULLY PULPIT.

WHY HASN'T HE USED THAT MORE OFTEN, MIKE?

>> FOR OTHER THINGS.

GUN SAFETY THINGS HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT.

FOR ETHICS REFORM AFTER HOUSE BILL 6.

HE CHOSE THIS ISSUE.

>> I THINK HE'LL HAVE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

LOOK, THE GOVERNOR -- THIS GOVERNOR, THAT IS, HE'S VERY SENSITIVE TO THE SEPARATION OF POWERS.

HE DOESN'T COMMENT ON LEGISLATION UNTIL IT GETS TO HIS DESK ALWAYS.

HE HAS OPINIONS, BUT HE WAITS.

I THINK HE WANTS TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT.

THERE'S THE ROLE OF THE LEGISLATURE, THE EXECUTIVE, AND JUDICIAL BRANCH OF COURSE.

I THINK THAT'S WHY HE DOESN'T DO IT, MY PERSONAL OPINION.

IF YOU EVER PLAY YOUR HAND TOO MUCH, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET ANYTHING ELSE.

HE'S GOT AN CAPITOL BUDGET AND AN OPERATING BUDGET TO GET THROUGH.

>> AGAIN IT BOILS DOWN TO POLITICS.

THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE ARE NOT GETTING ALONG.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.

AND THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT HE FELT THAT HE NEEDED TO BRING HIS EXECUTIVE POWER IN TO LITERALLY FORCE THE VOTE TO GET THESE LEGISLATORS TO ACT.

>> WERE LAWMAKERS HAPPY TO COME BACK TO SESSION THIS WEEK, ANDREW?

>> I MEAN I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY NICE OUTSIDE THIS WEEK, SO I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THEY MIGHT HAVE PREFERRED TO DO.

BUT I ALSO LIVE IN COLUMBUS, AND I LIKE BEING HERE.

MAYBE THEY DID TOO.

>> DID IT REALLY FORCE THE ISSUE?

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE PROMPTED TO ACT AND GOT IT DONE.

>> YEAH.

SO ON THE BALLOT FUNDING PART, I'M NOT SO SURE ABOUT WHETHER THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE SPECIAL SESSION.

PEOPLE TELL ME THEY WERE WORKING ON IT BEHIND THE SCENES ANYWAY, AND IT WOULD HAVE PASSED.

BUT I'VE COME TO HAVE LOW EXPECTATIONS FOR THEM COOPERATING ON THINGS.

>> HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT WILL IT HAVE ON -- WE TALK ABOUT NO FOREIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ISSUES CAMPAIGNS.

BUT THERE ARE SOME CHANGES IN THE PROCEDURES OF GETTING CAMPAIGNS AND ISSUES CAMPAIGNS GOING.

DO WE KNOW YET WHAT KIND OF IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON FUTURE CAMPAIGNS, GETTING THEM LAUNCHED?

>> IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

COURTS ARE GOING TO WEIGH IN.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF THIS GOES INTO EFFECT.

I THINK WE'RE IN A GRAY PERIOD RIGHT NOW.

NOT SURE.

HARD TO SAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SIX YEARS AGO, FBI AGENTS RAIDED THE HOME OF THEN-HOUSE SPEAKER CLIFF ROSENBERGER, AND HE QUICKLY RESIGNED.

THEN NOTHING HAPPENED.

HE WAS NEVER CHARGED.

MEANWHILE, ROSENBERGER RIVAL LARRY HOUSEHOLDER WAS CONVICTED OF BRIBERY AND IS NOW DOING 20 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON.

WELL, NOW FEDERAL PROSECUTORS HAVE NOTIFIED ROSENBERGER THAT HE IS NO LONGER A TARGET OR A SUBJECT OF AN INVESTIGATION.

ROSENBERGER, WHO HAS PROFESSED HIS INNOCENCE FROM THE BEGINNING, SAYS IT FEELS GOOD TO BE FINALLY VINDICATED OF ALL CHARGES.

SIX YEARS, ANDREW.

THAT'S A LONG TIME.

DO WE KNOW WHY IT TOOK SO LONG?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE DON'T REALLY KNOW ABOUT THIS JUST BECAUSE HAD IT COME TO TRIAL, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN EVIDENCE THAT WAS PRESENTED.

WE WOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT THE THEORY FROM THE FBI IN THE FIRST PLACE.

BUT IT'S BEEN PRETTY CLEAR THERE HASN'T REALLY BEEN ANYTHING GOING ON WITH THIS INVESTIGATION.

THERE WAS THE INITIAL SEARCH THAT TOOK PLACE, AND THAT WENT PUBLIC LARGELY BECAUSE THEY EVENTUALLY CAME TO THE STATEHOUSE.

THEY WERE TALKING TO PEOPLE THERE.

THEY TOOK EVIDENCE OUT OF STATE OFFICE BUILDINGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

HAVEN'T HEARD A LOT SINCE THEN.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A GOOD ANSWER.

MAYBE AT SOME POINT, WE'LL FIND OUT.

>> SIX YEARS.

THAT'S A LONG SHADOW.

THEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED IN BETWEEN.

ONE OF ROSENBERGER'S SUCCESSORS IS IN JAIL NOW.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SIX YEARS OF ANYONE'S LIFE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE OR NOT, I MEAN IT'S JUST A LONG TIME TO BE WAITING TO KNOW WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO BE CONVICTED OF A CRIME OR NOT.

SO, YOU KNOW, GOOD FOR HIM THAT HE'S NOT -- THAT HE'S NO LONGER A SUBJECT OF AN INVESTIGATION.

BUT, YEAH, IT'S SAD THAT, YOU KNOW, SIX YEARS OF ANY PERSON'S LIFE WOULD HAVE TO GO IN LIMBO LIKE THAT.

>> MIKE, YOU'RE AN ATTORNEY.

WAS THIS FAIR?

THERE WAS SOME EVIDENCE OF A COZY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRIS ROSENBERGER AND THE PAYDAY LENDING AGENCY.

NO CHARGES FILED.

NO CONVICTIONS CERTAINLY.

WAS THIS FAIR TO HIM TO GO THROUGH WITH THIS?

>> IT CERTAINLY WASN'T.

THIS IS BIZARRE, WHAT HAPPENED.

HE PUBLICLY STATED HE'S IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE IN HIS LIFE TODAY, MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY.

HE'S LIVING HIS BEST LIFE EVER.

TO GO THROUGH THIS, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE UNDER A CLOUD OF SUSPICION FOR SIX YEARS BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, CLIFF IS STANDING TALLER AND STRONGER TODAY THAN HE WAS BACK THEN.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE OWE HIM AN APOLOGY IN THIS TOWN BECAUSE THEY CONVICTED HIM WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE.

>> ANDREW, THIS TIES BACK TO HOUSEHOLDER BECAUSE THERE WAS EVIDENCE PRESENTED IN THAT CASE THAT HOUSEHOLDER PERHAPS LEAKED THIS INFORMATION TO THE FEDS TO TRY TO GET ROSENBERGER TO RESIGN TO CLEAR HIS PATH TO BECOMING SPEAKER.

>> AND WE'VE KIND OF SEEN EVER SINCE THEN, BECAUSE IT BASICALLY TRIGGERED A SPEAKER'S RACE THAT EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN LARRY HOUSEHOLDER BECOMING SPEAKER.

HE OBVIOUSLY IS NOW IN PRISON.

THEN THERE'S A SPEAKER DRAMA THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

I THINK OF ROSENBERGER ACTUALLY BEING THE LAST TIME THERE WAS STABLE LEADERSHIP.

IT WAS A LANDMARK FOR HIM TO RESIGN.

>> THERE'S NO RECOURSE.

YOU CAN'T GET BACK ALL THOSE ATTORNEYS FEES.

>> I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH HE PAID IN LEGAL FEES, BUT IT WASN'T CHEAP.

YES, THERE'S NO RECOURSE.

YOU CAN'T GET THAT BACK.

>> ANOTHER FORMER SPEAKER GOT ONE OF THESE LETTERS AND THEN CAME BACK AND BECAME HOUSE SPEAKER AGAIN.

OF COURSE THAT WAS LARRY HOUSEHOLDER.

ANY CHANCE, MIKE, THAT CLIFF ROSENBERGER TRIES TO RUN AGAIN.

>> I THINK HIS QUOTE WAS YOU NEVER SAY NEVER, BUT HE'S PERFECTLY HAPPY WHERE HE IS IN HIS LIFE.

>> IT COULD BE THE ROSENBERGER COMEBACK.

>>> STATE LAWMAKERS MAY TWEAK THE STATE'S NEW LEGAL MARIJUANA LAW.

WITH THE RECREATIONAL SALES BEGINNING TO BEGIN IN A MATTER OF WEEKS, A SENATE BILL WOULD IMPOSE SOME NEW RULES.

IT WOULD PREVENT ANYONE FROM UNDER 21 FROM BUYING DELTA 8 THC PRODUCTS.

IT WOULD PUT NEW REGULATIONS ON HOME GROWERS, AND IT WOULD BAN SMOKING OR VAPING CANNABIS IN ANY PUBLIC AREA WHERE TOBACCO SMOKING IS BANNED.

MIKE, IS THIS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD?

WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT CHANGES TO THE VOTER-APPROVED LAW SINCE IT WAS APPROVED.

>> WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR, I'M NOT SURE ANY NEW INITIATIVES ARE GOING TO GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE BETWEEN NOW AND DECEMBER 31st.

THEY'RE GOING TO GO ON BREAK, COME BACK IN THE FALL AND THEN LAME DUCK.

SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN.

YOU COULD ATTACH IT TO A BILL.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS BILL DOES NOT CIRCUMVENT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

UNFORTUNATELY THE VOTERS VOTED, AND WE HAVE POT HERE.

BUT WHAT THIS DOES IS PROTECT OUR KIDS.

AS YOU SAID, MIKE, YOU CAN'T SMOKE POT IN RESTAURANTS, SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, CHURCHES.

WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT KIDS FROM DELTA 8.

AND, LOOK, IF YOU WANT TO GROW POT, YOU'RE ALLOWED TO.

YOU VOTED FOR IT.

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO REGISTER BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO SELL POT OUT OF YOUR BACKYARD.

YOU CAN GROW.

YOU WANT TO SMOKE IT, THAT'S FINE.

BUT WE DON'T WANT YOU TO SELL BOOZE OUT OF YOUR BACKYARD, CIGARETTES OUT OF YOUR BACKYARD.

WE HAVE TO HAVE SAFETY STANDARDS SO WE DON'T HAVE THIS WILD WEST IN OUR STATE.

>> ARE THESE REASONABLE ADDITIONS TO THE LAW THAT VOTERS APPROVED?

>> I WOULD SAY THEY'RE REASONABLE BUT WE REALLY NEED TO ADD TO THIS BILL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FOLKS THAT WERE CONVICTED OF SELLING WEED THAT ARE SERVING LONG JAIL SENTENCES RIGHT NOW HAVE SOME SORT OF RECOURSE BECAUSE THIS IS NOW LEGAL IN OUR STATE.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE MAKING MONEY OFF OF CANNABIS.

SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DEFINITELY LOOK AT THE SOCIAL JUSTICE PART OF THIS.

>> ANDREW, BUSINESSES IN THE INDUSTRY, IN THE LEGAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY, THEY WOULD WANT THE DELTA 8 THC PRODUCTS REGULATED MORE CAREFULLY, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

I GUESS IT BASICALLY IS A COMPETITOR TO THEM.

IF YOU CAN BUY IT AT THE GAS STATION, WHY GO THROUGH THE TROUBLE OF GOING TO THE LICENSED DISPENSARY ACROSS THE STREET.

I IMAGINE THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING THIS GO THROUGH.

>> WHAT WAS THE REACTION, ANDREW, AT THE STATEHOUSE?

EVEN IF TIMING WASN'T A FACTOR, DOES THIS HAVE ANY CHANCE OF PASSING?

>> SIMILAR PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN MADE SINCE LAST DECEMBER.

THERE HASN'T BEEN SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS ON THE ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE JAMMED THROUGH IN LAME DUCK.

OFTEN WE SEE A FLURRY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY AFTER THE ELECTION.

SO MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING THERE.

BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH MOVEMENT, EVEN WITH GOVERNOR MIKE DeWINE.

MAYBE HE SHOULD CALL A SPECIAL SESSION TO DEAL WITH THAT.

>> NOW, YOU CAN'T SMOKE MARIJUANA OR VAPE MARIJUANA OR CANNABIS IN AREAS WHERE TOBACCO SMOKING IS NOT ALLOWED.

BUT YOU CAN SMOKE IN A PARK NOW.

I MEAN I SMELL PLENTY OF CIGAR SMOKE ON THE OH LAN TAN JI TRAIL.

YOU CAN'T DRINK A BEER ON THE OH LAN TAN JI TRAIL, BUT THIS DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

>> NO, IT DOESN'T.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE REGULATORS AT THE DEPARTMENT OR AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL NEED TO FIGURE OUT BECAUSE, LOOK, WE HAVE THIS NEW LAW.

IT'S IN OUR CONSTITUTION.

BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

WE WANT THE MEN AND WOMEN WE ELECT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS THE RIGHT AND SAFE WAY.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE BANNED.

YOU GOT TO GO BACK TO THE BALLOT IN YOU WANT TO DO THAT.

THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PUTTING OUR KIDS FIRST.

THE SCARIEST THING IS WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN 315 AND YOU SMELL MARIJUANA, THE GUY DRIVING NEXT TO YOU.

THAT'S WHAT SCARES THE BEJESUS OUT OF ME.

>> THERE'S GUYS THAT HAVE HAD A BEER DRIVING DOWN 315.

>> THAT TOO.

>> DIRK, ARE LAWMAKERS WAITING TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT?

MAYBE THEY'RE WAITING TO PUT RULES IN PLACE AFTER SIX MONTHS WHEN THEY SEE HOW THIS WORKS, WHERE THE PROBLEMS ARE.

>> I THINK THAT THEY ARE DEFINITELY TRYING TO SEE WHERE THINGS GO, BUT THIS LEGISLATURE IS DYSFUNCTIONAL RIGHT NOW.

IT'S NOT DOING MUCH.

SO YOU'RE NOT REALLY GETTING THE DEBATE THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY HAVE IN NORMAL SESSIONS WHERE YOU'RE ACTUALLY DEBATING WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE.

>> THE HOMEGROWN.

PEOPLE BREW BEER IN THEIR GARAGE, ANDREW.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT EVERY YEAR THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SELL IT TO THEIR NEIGHBOR DOWN THE STREET.

>> PEOPLE VIEW IT AS BEING DIFFERENT.

IT'S INTERESTING.

KIND OF MY PERCEPTION IS THEY'RE REALLY NOT THAT DIFFERENT.

BUT I KNOW THERE'S VERY PERSISTENT VIEWS ON IT THAT EXIST IN OUR SOCIETY.

BUT I DON'T -- YOU KNOW, THERE WOULD BE PEOPLE WHO WOULD ARGUE IT'S VERY SIMILAR.

>> ARE WE STILL GOING TO SEE SALES IN MID-JUNE AS SOME HAVE PREDICTED?

>> I THINK SO.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE VOLUMINOUS IN EVERY COUNTY, BUT I THINK YOU'LL SEE IT.

>> ARE WE READY?

>> READY OR NOT, HERE THEY COME.

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE THE LONG LINES AND FINDING A PARKING SPACE OUTSIDE OF THESE DISPENSARIES, THE MEDICAL DISPENSARIES, WHICH WILL BE FIRST UP.

>>> OUR LAST TOPIC, THE COLUMBUS SCHOOL BOARD HAS SEEN ITS SHARE OF CONTROVERSIES OVER THE YEARS, AND THE TRADITION CONTINUES.

THE BOARD IS CONSIDERING A PLAN THAT COULD CLOSE UP TO 20 SCHOOLS.

THAT'S CONTROVERSIAL ENOUGH.

BUT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER BRANDON SIMMONS CAUSED OUTRAGE FOR HIS ROLE IN THE CREATION OF A SCHOOL-CLOSING CAMPAIGN STRATEGY DOCUMENT.

THE STRATEGY INCLUDED USING RACIAL DYNAMICS TO COUNTER TEACHERS UNION OPPOSITION, PLAYING MEDIA FAVORITES, AND USING LOUD EQUIPMENT TO DROWN OUT OPPONENTS WHEN THEY HOLD NEWS CONFERENCES.

SIMMONS SAYS OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HELPED CRAFT THE DOCUMENT.

THEY DENY THAT.

SOME HAVE CALLED FOR SIMMONS TO RESIGN.

THIS WEEK, THE BOARD VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, INCLUDING SIMMONS, THEY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO CENSURE SIMMONS.

DEREK, WHAT DOES THIS DO TO THE SCHOOL-CLOSING PROCESS, WHICH EVERYONE AGREES HAS TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY NEAR-EMPTY BUILDINGS?

>> WELL, IT RAISES SEVERAL QUESTIONS.

YOU KNOW, THIS MEMO THAT WAS LEAKED APPARENTLY, YOU KNOW, AUTHORED BY SIMMONS, WAS NOT WISE TO DO IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THERE ARE WAYS IN WHICH YOU, YOU KNOW, SIT DOWN AND NEGOTIATE WITH THE LABOR UNIONS.

SOMETIMES YOU DON'T GET WHAT YOU WANT.

BUT DOING IT IN A MANNER WHERE YOU'RE PUTTING, YOU KNOW, RACIAL AND DEROGATORY LANGUAGE IN, TACTICS THAT ARE CLEARLY NOT OF THE CHARACTER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE ADMINISTRATION IS JUST REALLY A ROOKIE -- I WON'T EVEN SAY A MISTAKE.

IT WAS JUST A DUMB THING TO DO.

>> MIKE, HE'S A VERY YOUNG PERSON, MR. SIMMONS.

HE'S, I THINK, 23.

NEW TO THE BOARD, NEWLY ELECTED.

IS IT JUST A ROOKIE MISTAKE, OR DOES IT REFLECT, IN YOUR OPINION, THE WHOLE BOARD AND THE ADMINISTRATION?

>> I THINK IT'S A REFLECTION ON HIM.

BUT HE IS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD.

WHETHER HE BE 18 OR 80, HE'S AN ADULT.

HE'S A GROWN MAN.

IS HE NAIVE?

ABSOLUTELY.

APPARENTLY ACCORDING TO THE MEMO.

I DON'T KNOW HIM.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOUR AGE DOESN'T GIVE YOU A -- YOU KNOW, A GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD SO TO SPEAK.

HE DID THIS.

HE'S ON THE BOARD, AND HE SPEAKS FOR THE BOARD AS AN ELECTED BOARD MEMBER.

LOOK, MOMS AND DADS IN THE CITY OF COLUMBUS NEED TO ELECT BETTER CANDIDATES.

THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO, FOR SCHOOL BOARD.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, ATTITUDE REFLECTS LEADERSHIP.

A BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET, SCHOOLS ARE STRUGGLING.

THE TRUANCY RATE IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH IN COLUMBUS PUBLIC.

WE HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS IN COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> I CAN TELL YOU JUST KNOWING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS THERE, SUPER PROFESSIONAL.

DR. CHAPMAN IS TOP NOTCH.

SHE IS LEADING THIS DISTRICT IN A GREAT WAY.

YOU KNOW, THIS YOUNG MAN, I MEAN HOPEFULLY HE LEARNS FROM THIS.

>> SHOULD HE HAVE RESIGNED, DO YOU THINK?

>> MAYBE.

MAYBE.

>> BUT A CENSURE IS -- IT'S SOMETHING ANYWAY.

ANDREW, YOU'VE COVERED VARIOUS SCHOOL BOARDS AS HAVE I.

WHY DO THEY GENERATE SO MUCH CONTROVERSY?

WHY ARE THEY SO RIPE FOR THIS KIND OF STUFF?

>> I MEAN THEY'RE JUST VERY CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE THAT THEY REPRESENT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A FORM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT EVERYBODY'S AFFECTED BY, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE CHILDREN.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S CLEARLY PASSIONS RUN PRETTY HIGH WHEN THEY INVOLVE SCHOOLS.

SOMETHING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS IS THAT I DON'T COVER THE SCHOOL BOARD, BUT I JUST KNOW THAT -- OR I'M AMUSED BY THE FACT IS IF HE'S GOING TO THINK THESE THINGS, AND HE PUT THEM INTO WRITING.

I THINK THE TAKEAWAY IS IF YOU HAVE AN EVIL PLAN, MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T WRITE IT DOWN.

>> EVEN IF THIS STUFF IS BEING TALKED ABOUT, PUTTING IS IN WRITING IS NEVER A GOOD IDEA.

>> NEVER.

YOU SHOULD NEVER DO THAT.

AND EVEN IF YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS AROUND -- OR STRATEGY AS TO HOW YOU WANT TO DEAL WITH AN ISSUE, YOU SHOULD TALK IT THROUGH WITH YOUR BOARD.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU SHOULD ALSO TALK IT THROUGH WITH SOME OTHER FOLKS THAT HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE IN HOW TO LAY THINGS OUT.

>> RUN IT BY YOUR PARTNER FOR INSTANCE BEFORE YOU START TALKING TO THE BOARD.

>>> IT'S TIME NOW FOR OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS.

MIKE, YOU'RE FIRST.

>> 190,000 JOBS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW FOR OHIOANS.

56% OF THEM PAY OVER $50,000 A YEAR, AND THERE'S HEALTH CARE INVOLVED WITH THAT TOO.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE STRUGGLING, I MEAN GET TO OHIO MEANS JOBS.COM AND FIND YOURSELF A GOOD PAYING JOB.

>> DEREK.

>> THE ZONING PROCESS IS UNDER WAY.

THERE WILL LIKELY BE A VOTE ON THIS IN JULY.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS GOING TO DRAMATICALLY CHANGE HOW OUR ZONING LAWS ARE AFFECTED HERE IN THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

>> THAT IS A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE.

AND ANDREW.

>> THIS IS NOT A COLUMBUS ISSUE, BUT A FEW PEOPLE WERE CITED THIS WEEK FOR VANDALIZING THE SEVEN FOOT TALL PINK FLAMINGO IN PARMA, WHICH IS A RECENT ADDITION TO THE CITY BUT A BELOVED ONE.

I'M GLAD THE FLAMINGO IS OKAY AND I HOPE THEY GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CASE.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE AGAINST THE FLAMINGO?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHO COULD.

>> JUST HIJINKS.

ANYWAY, ARE ALL SIDES TALK SHOW STARTS A NEW SERIES THIS WEEK.

ANNA STAVER IS CONTINUING HER UNTANGLED SERIES.

AND FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS AT 11:00 ON MONDAYS AND ALSO ON THE PODCAST, SHE'LL BE LOOKING AT IMMIGRATION, DIVING DEEP INTO WHY IT'S A BIG ISSUE AND WHAT IT ALL MEANS BOTH FOR IMMIGRANTS AND FOR THE STATE OF OHIO.

CHECK IT OUT WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS.

UNTANGLED OR ALL SIDES.

THAT IS IT FOR "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" FOR THIS WEEK.

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ONLINE.

WE'RE ON FACEBOOK, AND YOU CAN WATCH US ANYTIME AT OUR WEBSITE, WOSU.ORG/COTR.

WE'RE ALSO ON YOUTUBE AND THE PBS VIDEO TAP.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

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